Gummed label applying device



March 28, 1961 Filed Dec. 18, 1958 T. F. ARONSON EFAL 2,977,016

GUMMED LABEL APPLYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I "mull- :l

INVENTOR.

THEODORE F. ARONSON ALBERT F. KRONMAN FLOY LYON ma/W A TORNE Y March 28, 1961 T. F. ARONSON ET AL 2, 77,016

GUMMED LABEL APPLYING DEVICE Filed D90. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

INVENTOR.

THEODORE F. ARONSON ALBERT F. KRONMAN FLOYD A. LYON BY W A TORNEY GUMMED LABEL APPLYING DEVICE Theodore F. Aronson, 60 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, N.Y.; Albert F. Kronman, Box 237, Lattingtown Harbor, N.Y.; and Floyd A. Lyon, Old Wheatley Road, Brookville, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 781,227

6 Claims. (Cl. 216--'37) This invention relates to a gummed label dispensing device and particularly to a mechanism whereby gummed labels can be removed from a stack, moistened and thereafter applied individually to asupporting surface.

Where it is desired to apply gummed labels to the surface of an envelope, a package, or the like in large quantities, it has been found necessary to employ highly complicated specialized machinery. The prior art devices in addition to being cumbersome are expensive and require that the label receiving article be brought to the applying device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, portable label applying device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a label dispensing device which is positive in its action and which will moisten and discharge only one label at a time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a label applying device which may be used to apply labels to vertical, horizontal and overhead surfaces.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a label applying device which will operate with a minimum amount of adjustment.

A feature of the present device is its continuous motion feed and label applying action. 7

Another feature of the presentinvention is its use of the label receiving surface to provide a means for driving the components ofthe feed and moistening device.

'i i ed States Patent 9 Still another feature of the present invention is its label moistening roller, which can be used in any position of the label applying machine. v

{in the accompanying drawings is illustrated one form of the present invention in, which corresponding parts have been given the same reference characters.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevationof a complete embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the label applying machine shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken .on line 3-3 inFigure12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the label applying machine.

Figure 5 is a: fragmentary cross section of the labelv feeding and moistening portion .of the device showing the initial label feed position of the various elements. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the manner in whichthelabel is applied to the supporting surface. I a i V Referring to thedrawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicates a housing consistingof a body portion. 11, and a cover 12' overlying said body. The front of the housing 10-is adaptedto receive a plurality of rollers as will be-hereinafter more fully set'forth. .Outwardly extending ribs 13 may be provided on the outside of the housing 10 to facilitate gripping the device. The interior of thelabel body portion .11, as best shown in Figure 3, consistsof a. label receiving box-like ice magazine 14 open at its top and having a narrow inwardly extending stop member 15 at the bottom thereof. The bottom stop member 15 extends across the magazine 14 as illustrated in Figure 4. A small needle-like member 16 is carried by the stop member 15 so that it engages the labels 17 in the magazine 14, as shown in Figure 3. The front wall 18 of the magazine 14 opposite the stop member 15 ends short of the plane of the stop member. The leading edge of the bottom label 17 is therefore free to move out of the magazine 14 beneath the front wall 18 of the said magazine. Between the cover 12 and the labels 17 there is disposed a plate 19 which is urged against the stack of labels 17 by means of a folded spring 20. In this manner a continuous downward pressure is applied to the stack of labels 17.

The housing 10 is provided with forwardly extendin spaced wall members 21, between which there is supported the label dispensing and moistening elements.

The bottom label 42 of the stack 17 overlies one or more label feed wheels 22, which are provided with a resilient rim 23 for all but a portion of their periphery. The rim 23 may be made of rubber, neoprene, or the like. A gap 24 is cut in the rim 23 for a hereinafter described purpose. The feed wheels 22 are secured to a gear 25 which is carried by the feed wheel shaft '26. The feed wheels 22 are driven by means of one or more drive wheels 28 which are carried by the side walls 21 of the housing 10 in front of the said feed wheels. The drive wheels 28 are secured to a shaft 29 which'has attached thereto a drive gear 30. The drive gear 30 is in mesh with the gear 25 on the feed wheel shaft 26. The drive wheels 28 extend from the bottom of the housing 10 and may be applied to the surface 31 to which the label is to be secured. The drive gear 30 is also in mesh with a driven gear 32. The driven gear 32 is carried upon the label moistening roller shaft 33. The moistening roller 36 is built up by slipping a series of felt or other moisture absorbing discs 34 separated by Washers 35 upon the shaft 33. The discs and washers are disposed on either side of the gear 32, and turn with said gear, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4. The moistening roller 36 is carried between spaced arms 37 located between the walls 21 of the housing 10. Spring fingers 38 are located between the discs 34, as shown in Figures 2 and 4 and overlie the washers 35. To prevent the labels from adhering to the moistening wheel 36, the spring fingers are bent so as to lead the label in the direction of the surface to which the label is to be applied after it has passed over the top of the moistening wheel 36.

A label afiiixing roller 39 is freely journaled between the side walls 21 upon a shaft 40 at the extreme front of thte label applying device. A label guide 41 is secured to, and extends outwardly from, the front wall 1 8 of the magazine 14 between the moistening discs 34 to prevent the labels from moving out of the direct path between the moistening wheel 36 and the afiixing roller 39 and to press the label into contact with the said discs.

When it is desired to use the label applying device described herein, the cover 12, spring 20, and plate 19 are removed from the label holding compartment 11. A quantity of labels 17 is placed within the magazine with their gummed surfaces facing the bottom thereof. The bottom-most labels will rest upon the needlelike member 16. The labels will be urged upon the needlelike member 16 when the plate 19:, the spring 20 and the cover 12 are replaced upon the label holding compartment 11. The moistening discs 34 of the wheel 36 are supplied with a suitable fluid. Alternately the moistening roller may be provided with a hollow shaft 44 as shown in Figure 5 to receive the fluid, and openings 45 in the shaft to permit the fluid to enter the moistening discs. Since the device does not require a trough of fluid, it maybe used to apply labels to surfaces without regard for the plane in which the surfaces lie.

To feed and apply labels, it is merely necessary to place the drive wheels 28 on the surface 31, and to draw the label applying machine rearwardly across the said surface. It is to'be understood that the term rearwardly, as used herein, means in a direction opposite to that of the label affixing roller 39, or downwardly and to the right in Figures 1 and 3.

As the drive wheels 28 turn they rotate the shaft 29, and the gear 30 secured thereto. The drive gear 39 drives the gear 25 between the feed wheels 22, 27, causing them to frictionally engage the lower-most label 42 of the stack 17. The resilient rim 23 tears the lower-most label 42 free of the needle 16, and moves it in the direction of the moistening wheel 36, as shown in Figure 5. The moistening wheel 36, which is also being driven through its gear 32, turns and applies fluid to the gummed surface of the label 42. As soon as the forward edge of the label 42 appears in front of the aiiixing roller 39, the operator of the label applying device rocks the said device to bring the roller 39 to bear against the label and affix it to the surface of the article to be labelled, as shown in Figure 6. As the roller 39 completes its traverse across the label, the application of the label is accomplished. As shown in Figure 6, the gap 24 in the rim 23 at this juncture will be adjacent the stack of labels and no driving action will be imparted to the labels 17 until the ejected label 42 is secured to the surface 31. In this manner, succeeding labels are not forced one upon the other in an undesired fashion. Succeeding labels can be fed by again applying the drive wheels 28 to the surface 31 as hereinabove set forth.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a label applying device which lends itself to easy and rapid operation, and which can be transported from place to place and used against any surface no matter what the angle of disposition of said surface.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A gummed label moistening and applying device I comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, a drive wheel carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a shaft for said drive wheel, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheel and shaft, a first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including a label feed wheel secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheel engageable with the labels in the magazine, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label affixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the affixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means in contact with the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the aflixing roller.

2. A gummed label moistening and applying device comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, a cover member for said magazine, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, spring means in the housing beneath the cover to urge the labels toward the bottom thereof, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, a drive wheel carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a

shaft for said drive wheel, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheel and shaft, a first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including a label feed wheel secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheel engageable with the labels in the magazine, a gap in the rim, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label afiixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the afiixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means in contact with the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the afiixing roller.

3. A gummed label moistening and applying device comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, a drive wheel carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a shaft for said drive wheel, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheel and shaft, a first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including a label feed wheel secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheel engageable with the labels in the magazine, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller consisting of a series of moisture absorbing discs separated by washers on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label aflixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the affixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means in contact with the washers of the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the afiixing roller.

4. A gummed label moistening and applying device comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, spaced drive wheels carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a shaft for said drive wheels, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheels and shaft, a first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including spaced label feed wheels secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheels engageable with the labels in the magazine, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label affixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the afiixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means in contact with the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the afiixing roller.

5. A gummed label moistening and applying device comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, a drive wheel carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a shaft for said drive wheel, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheel and shaft, 2. first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including a label feed wheel secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheel engageable with the labels in the magazine, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label aifixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the afiixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means consisting ofan arm carried by the magazine and extending outwardly therefrom in the direction of the moistening roller and spring fingers in contact with the washers of the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the aflixing roller.

6. A gummed label moistening and applying device comprising, a housing, a magazine to receive a quantity of individual gummed labels in the housing, a cover member for said magazine, an opening in the bottom of the magazine, spring means in the housing beneath the cover to urge the labels toward the bottom thereof, a flange-like stop member extending across the rear of the said opening, a needlelike member carried by the stop and extending into the magazine to engage the labels therein, spaced drive wheels carried by the housing beneath the magazine, a shaft for said drive wheels, a drive gear secured to the drive wheel shaft and rotatable with the drive wheels and shaft, a first driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft for said first driven gear carried by the housing beneath the magazine, label feed means including spaced label feed wheels secured to the first driven gear shaft, and a resilient rim on the feed wheels engageable with the labels in the magazine, a gap in the rim, a second driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, a shaft secured to the second driven gear carried by the housing, a moistening roller consisting of a series of moisture absorbing discs separated by washers on the second driven gear shaft and rotatable therewith, a label aflixing roller above and in front of the moistening roller, a shaft for the aifixing roller, said roller being freely journaled thereon and guide means consisting of an arm carried by the magazine and extending outwardly therefrom in the direction of the moistening roller and spring fingers in contact with the Washers of the moistening roller to lead the labels from the magazine across the moistening roller and beneath the aflixing roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,041,542 Wild Oct. 15, 1912 1,433,187 Daniels Oct. 24, 1922 1,648,590 Putnam Nov. 8, 1927 2,368,262 Oftedahl et a1. Jan. 30, 1945 2,839,213 Ory June 17, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,299 Germany Mar. 12, 1892 

